The Confessional

Can you imagine if the  name of my whole blog was "The Confessional"?  I bet I'd get a lot more traffic!

Actually, I’m about to confess to you that I can be a not-so-great human being.  Sometimes I don’t like a person.  And instead of trying to like them?  Instead of finding qualities that I could just love in them? I let myself sink deeper and deeper into dislike.  Sometimes, you guys, I look for more reasons not to like them.  Until one day I’m stranded and this person comes along to help and I don’t accept AND am angry at him for being in a position to help me. 

I know.  For shame. 

My point is, the rabbis and Pharisees should have been thanking their lucky stars.  They’ve dedicated their lives to becoming holy men, following some very fancy, complicated laws to a tee in order to achieve rabbi or Pharisee status.  But it’s worth it, because when you’re a rabbi or Pharisee in Israel you get crazy awesome accolades.  But then a young, hip rabbi (Jesus) comes in on his longboard (well, that part isn’t in the Bible, actually) and says all their rule following and suffering through bacon-less meals is for nothing!  And Jesus being Jesus gave them what should have been the loveliest of outs:  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30).

But these gentlemen were looking for any excuse to hate Jesus.  Instead of taking this opportunity to make their lives much easier, they chose to condemn Jesus.  For lots of reasons, like small-mindedness, pride, jealousy…. All kinds of ugly things stopped them from seeing our Jesus for what he was- a Savior.